alive ↠ hs

.27

Saige's POV

Asher took his own apartment much to my dismay. I didn't want him to leave, his presence in the bed at night was comforting. 

I was afraid to be alone after seeing Harry. I didn't know how to organize my feelings and thoughts that I felt about him. He was absolutely breaking my heart but I yearned to be close to him again.

He left me. Us. I was both relieved and terrified at the thought of seeing him. Relieved that he was alive, but terrified at seeing him again. After I tried so hard to forget about him.

A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts. I opened the door, half expecting to see Harry standing there, an apology on his lips. 

Instead, Jay stood there, a smirk on his lips. I'd rather Harry be standing there than this asshole.

I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the door. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"A hello would be great, love." He said, pushing past me.

"Don't call me that. Only-" I cut myself off, swallowing thickly. "Just don't call me that."

"Sorry, darling." He dared, his eyes lingering on me.

"Why are you here?" I asked him, crossing my arms, putting distance between us two.

"Well," he grinned at me. "I thought since we were destined to marry, I don't know much about you at all."

"Consider yourself lucky."

A deep chuckle came from his throat as he turned to look at me. "Come on, Saige, tell me something about you."

I gripped the handle of my knife I hid behind my back. "I don't like being played around with."

"Oh, really?" He smiled, taking a step towards me.

"I don't like arrogant assholes who think they're superior to me, when they're not."

Jay stepped forward, his hand wrapping around the base of my throat. My back pressed against the wall as a smile spread across his lips. "Really, love?"

I shoved him back, pulling the knife from my belt. "Don't touch me, don't ever come near me or so h-"

He swiftly grabbed the knife from my hand, pressing it against throat. I let out a whimper as he gripped my arm tightly.

"I don't know where you came from or who you think you are, but you will not talk to me like that," he said harshly, pressing the knife harder into my throat. "Remember who's holding this knife right now because next time, I won't hesitate to use it."

He dropped the knife, letting it clatter to the floor as I breathed heavily. He left, slamming the door behind him.

I stayed pressed against the wall, struggling to catch my breath.

***

The next morning, I arose to the sound of someone pulling at my covers. 

I opened my eyes, finding a boy standing at the edge of my bed, pulling at me covers, trying to wake me.

I sat up, pulling the duvet to cover myself. "What are you doing?"

He jumped at my movement, standing up straight. "Sorry, Queen Melody sent for you."

I pulled myself from bed, letting the boy finish whatever they sent him to do. I got dressed, the servants dressing me in the tightly pulled corset and a beautiful dress. 

When I reached Melody's apartment, she was dressed better than I was, a smile on her painted lips.

"Hi," she smiled at me. "Are you all right, love?"

I looked up at her and met her eyes. Instantly, tears started falling down my cheeks. She wrapped her arms around me, mumbling an 'awe' underneath her breath.

"Oh, love, don't cry," she said, swiping tears from my cheeks. "Crying is a sign of weakness and you must not be weak."

She was right. I stood up straighter, pushing the tears from my cheek. "Sorry, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," she said to me, pushing my hair back from my face. "Turn that pain into power."

I was thankful for her words. I pulled myself together and followed her instructions on how to walk, talk, how to portray myself at dinner and, much against my wishes, how to walk in heels.

Learning to walk in heels was about as useless as learning to use lipstick to me. Especially fighting against the dead.

After we were finished, my forehead was sticky with sweat, my back aching from being forced straight.

She brushed my hair back from my face and smiled brightly at me. "Smile, love, it looks beautiful on you."

My mind flashed back to Harry, how he called me that before.

Before he left you. I reminded myself.

She squeezed my cheek between her thumb and forefinger before smiling at me. "Go on with your day, try to keep that pretty smile on your face, dear."

I was on the way to Asher's apartment when his arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a linen closet. He leaned down close to me and harshly pressed his lips against mine. I instantly pulled back, looking up at the intruder.

Jay's brown eyes met mine as I struggled to get out of his grip. "No, no, no where do you think you're going?"

He pulled me back, pressing his body harder against mine. His fingers went under my shirt, groping me as I pushed against him.

He forced his lips against mine as memories of what that man did to me echoed in my brain as I shoved at his chest.

"Please, stop." I whimpered, my chin wobbling with threatening tears.

"Oh, love," he said against me. "I can't let you go."

I shoved him away, my knee going into his groin. He hunched over as I pushed myself out of the closet and to the nearest exit.

I ran through the street like a mad-man, searching for somewhere to hide. My lungs burned with tears and lack of oxygen.

I was nearing one of the outer gates in the back of the town when I ran slam into someone, tumbling backwards.

As I hit the ground, I stayed there sprawled on my back as I let the tears engulf me.

His tall figured hovered over me, his emerald eyes dancing over mine. He lowered himself to the ground beside him, laying out like I was.

At the moment, I didn't despise him. I just wanted him to pull me into his arms and hold me.

As I turned over to face him, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me from the ground as tears continued washing down my face.

"I've got you."